Past Events & Training

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

Course participants will be given an overview of the issues affecting EAL children, including factors which may form barriers to progression in learning.
As part of this there will be an exploration of common problems faced by children during the early stages of language acquisition.
The course will also :
• explore the use of visual aids to support and develop all round learning, including strategies and resources to promote language skills.
• consider how to raise EAL children’s self-esteem and motivate them to achieve well and exceed their learning targets.

Course content includes:
- Identifying which children are most at risk and why
- Child development in relation to accidents
- Accident prevention in the home
- Risk assessment in the home

This one day course is accredited by City & Guilds and an optional assessment (a one hour City & Guilds exam) is available at the end of the course. Please indicate if you wish to take the exam when you RSVP.

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

Early Years SENCO training for PVIs - what you need to effectively support children with SEND

Session 1 - Introduction to the SEND Code of Practice 2014, local processes, the Disability Enablement Service and the role of the Area SENCO/setting SENCO - led by Area SENCOs
Session 2 - Data protection and confidentiality, working in partnership with parents, Early Help referral, referrals to Wood Street, Education Psychology Service (EPS) - led by Area SENCOs
Session 3 - Introduction to Autism - led by Fiona Davey (EPS)
Session 4 - Supporting Speech, Language and Communication – led by SALT
Session 5 - Early Years SEND support plans, outcomes and reviews, EHCP requests/reviews - led by Area SENCOs
Session 6 - Transitions for children with SEND and portfolio submission - led by Area SENCOs

Each session is considered a module. If a module is missed, a practitioner can make up the missed session next term. However, only a maximum of 2 modules can be made up next term. Any more than two and the course must be started again. Each practitioner who completes this course to a high enough standard will receive a certificate to acknowledge their ability to carry out SEND Support in an Early Years setting.

There are other 6-session courses available for PVIs in the autumn and summer terms.

NQTs will undertake a one term practice based action research project. NQTs will review personal practice and assessment, observation and mentoring objectives against the Teacher Standards.
NQTs to engage with research and development strategies. NQTs will understand the impact of practice based research and be given the opportunity to speak to practitioners who have already undertaken significant action research. NQTs will have the opportunity to plan action based research supported by CPD Leaders.

- Prevalence of perinatal depression, psychosis and other mental health issues
- Understanding the causes and presentation of poor mental health in pregnancy and postnatal period
- Understanding the significance of poor maternal mental health on early attachment and childhood development
- Appropriate responses to perinatal mental health issues

To provide practical advice and build skills for the audience on:

- How to identify the early signs of poor maternal mental health
- How to provide help on a first aid basis and guide a woman/ and partner toward the right support
- How to help protect a woman and baby who might be at risk of harm
- How to help prevent escalation of mental health issues and support faster recovery
- How to help every mother develop a close, loving bond with her baby
- How to stigma of perinatal mental health issues
- How to promote wellbeing and protective factors

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

The course will involve PowerPoint presentations as well as opportunities for discussion and practical activities. Each TA will be issued with the practical text Emotional Wellbeing: an Introductory Handbook and they will be sign-posted to other resources. It is also anticipated that TAs will begin to try out some of the things they have learned between sessions so they can provide feedback and gain support throughout the course.

What will the course cover?
• using different outdoor environments as a context for developing thinking skills.
• the use of natural materials to enhance outdoor learning.
• developing imagination and creativity.
• active problem solving.
• the benefits of and need for risk taking.

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

At this drop-in Jo Quinlan, Speech and Language Therapist will be attending.

The Educational Psychology Service is repeating successful training for Early Years Practitioners in PVIs and schools to help staff identify possible SCD, understand referral processes, and support children and their families with appropriate strategies

The aim of the forum is to provide an opportunity to discuss issues and share practical advice of help to SENCOs in carrying out their roles. The Forum has a commitment to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and inclusion, and to offering a solution-focused, collaborative and mutually supportive resource.

Early Years SENCO training for PVIs - what you need to effectively support children with SEND

Session 1 - Introduction to the SEND Code of Practice 2014, local processes, the Disability Enablement Service and the role of the Area SENCO/setting SENCO - led by Area SENCOs
Session 2 - Data protection and confidentiality, working in partnership with parents, Early Help referral, referrals to Wood Street, Education Psychology Service (EPS) - led by Area SENCOs
Session 3 - Introduction to Autism - led by Fiona Davey (EPS)
Session 4 - Supporting Speech, Language and Communication – led by SALT
Session 5 - Early Years SEND support plans, outcomes and reviews, EHCP requests/reviews - led by Area SENCOs
Session 6 - Transitions for children with SEND and portfolio submission - led by Area SENCOs

Each session is considered a module. If a module is missed, a practitioner can make up the missed session next term. However, only a maximum of 2 modules can be made up next term. Any more than two and the course must be started again. Each practitioner who completes this course to a high enough standard will receive a certificate to acknowledge their ability to carry out SEND Support in an Early Years setting.

There are other 6-session courses available for PVIs in the autumn and summer terms.

This drop-in will provide childminders the opportunity to come together with their children to enjoy fun activities linked to their children’s learning and development and strengthen friendships and links between other local childminders.

A childminding development worker from the Council will be running the session which will give all childminders regular access to support they may need.

On top of this we will be inviting professionals to attend these sessions. We recognise that childminders may sometimes find it hard to access services to support the needs of the children they care for. Therefore we will be inviting professionals such as Area SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Curriculum leaders, Speech and language therapists, Health visitors, Safeguarding advisors, Early Help advisors and FEEE officers to attend some of these drop-ins. A schedule of these visits will be available shortly.

At this drop-in Gemma White from the Early Help team will be attending.

Waltham Forest Schools Forum has an important role under the school funding arrangements introduced in April 2006. It has a consultative role in relation to the local distribution of school funding and it is also able to decide on certain proposals from the local authority which currently have to go to the Secretary of State for decision. Further information about Waltham Forest's Schools Forum and details of the next meeting can be found on the Waltham Forest Council website.

The course will:
Provide practitioners with opportunities to practice using a range of effective observation methods.
Explore ways of setting up enabling environments that support child initiated and adult learning.
Support practitioners in using children’s interests and next steps as the starting points for purposeful planning.
Explore ways of involving parents and children in the observation, assessment and planning process.
Support practitioners in how to evaluate children’s progress and use this information to improve outcomes.

This course focuses on the following key areas and responsibilities:
• To explain the individual strands of SMSC and implications for the school
• To review Ofsted guidance on SMSC, linking this to what inspectors will look for during inspection
• To clarify the role of the SMSC Co-ordinator
• To provide guidance on developing an effective SMSC policy
• To provide guidance on gathering perceptions of SMSC through a questionnaire for parents/carers and the pupil voice
• To provide guidance on evaluating current provision and planning next steps